Secondary battery including electrode assembly laterally inserted into case, and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

A secondary battery includes: a case having an open side surface; an electrode assembly inserted into the case through the open side surface, the electrode assembly including a bent electrode tab; a terminal electrically connected to the electrode tab of the electrode assembly and exposed to an outside of the case; a cover covering the open side surface of the case; an electrode plate insulating member electrically insulating an electrode plate of the electrode assembly from the terminal; and a bent portion insulating member electrically insulating an inner surface of the cover from the bent portion of the electrode tab.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A secondary battery comprising:
 a case having an open side surface;   an electrode assembly inserted into the case through the open side surface, the electrode assembly comprising a bent electrode tab;   a terminal electrically connected to the electrode tab of the electrode assembly and exposed to an outside of the case;   a cover covering the open side surface of the case;   an electrode plate insulating member electrically insulating an electrode plate of the electrode assembly from the terminal; and   a bent portion insulating member electrically insulating an inner surface of the cover from the bent portion of the electrode tab.   
     
     
         2 . The secondary battery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the terminal comprises:
 a first terminal connected to the case; and   a second terminal electrically insulated from the case by an insulator and comprising an inner terminal portion extending into the case.   
     
     
         3 . The secondary battery as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the electrode tab of the electrode assembly comprises:
 a first electrode tab welded to an inner surface of the case and connected to the first terminal through the case; and   a second electrode tab connected to the inner terminal portion of the second terminal.   
     
     
         4 . The secondary battery as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the electrode plate insulating member comprises:
 a first insulating portion electrically insulating the first terminal from an electrode plate of the electrode assembly; and   a second insulating portion electrically insulating the inner terminal portion of the second terminal from the electrode plate of the electrode assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The secondary battery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the electrode plate insulating member in contact with the terminal comprises an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         6 . The secondary battery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bent portion insulating member comprises an insulating tape attached to the electrode tab of the electrode assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The secondary battery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bent portion insulating member comprises a plate-shaped insulator applied to the inner surface of the cover. 
     
     
         8 . The secondary battery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bent portion of the electrode tab faces the cover. 
     
     
         9 . The secondary battery as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electrode tab of the electrode assembly is connected to the terminal through welding, and
 wherein the terminal comprises a welding portion for welding the electrode tab.   
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a secondary battery, the method comprising:
 manufacturing a case having an open side surface and a cover configured to cover the opening;   manufacturing an electrode assembly comprising an electrode tab;   manufacturing a terminal to be coupled to the case and coupling the terminal to the case;   connecting the electrode tab of the electrode assembly to the terminal that is coupled to the case;   applying an electrode plate insulating member to electrically insulate an electrode plate of the electrode assembly from the terminal;   bending the electrode tab of the electrode assembly;   inserting the electrode assembly having the bent electrode tab into the case through the open side surface in the case;   applying a bent portion insulating member to electrically insulate the bent electrode tab from the cover; and   covering the open side surface in the case with the cover.   
     
     
         11 . The manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the coupling of the terminal to the case comprises:
 bonding a first terminal to the case; and   electrically insulating a second terminal from the case and coupling the second terminal to the case.   
     
     
         12 . The manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the connecting of the electrode tab of the electrode assembly to the terminal coupled to the case comprises:
 welding a first electrode tab to an inner surface of the case and connecting the first electrode tab to the first terminal through the case; and   welding and connecting a second electrode tab to the second terminal.   
     
     
         13 . The manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the electrode plate insulating member comprises:
 a first insulating portion electrically insulating the first terminal from the electrode plate of the electrode assembly; and   a second insulating portion electrically insulating an inner terminal portion of the second terminal from the electrode plate of the electrode assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the applying of the bent portion insulating member comprises attaching an insulating tape to the electrode tab of the electrode assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the applying of the bent portion insulating member comprises attaching an insulator to an inner surface of the cover. 
     
     
         16 . The manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the bending of the electrode tab of the electrode assembly comprises bending a bent portion of the electrode tab to face the cover. 
     
     
         17 . The manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the bending of the electrode tab of the electrode assembly comprises rotating the electrode assembly having the electrode tab that is connected to the terminal that is coupled to the case toward the case. 
     
     
         18 . The manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the bending of the electrode tab of the electrode assembly comprises:
 primarily rotating the electrode assembly having the electrode tab that is connected to the terminal that is coupled to the case away from the case; and   secondarily rotating the primarily rotated electrode assembly toward the case.   
     
     
         19 . The manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the bending of the electrode tab of the electrode assembly comprises placing a bending blade on the electrode tab connected to the terminal coupled to the case and rotating the electrode assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The manufacturing method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the bending of the electrode tab of the electrode assembly comprises rotating the electrode assembly around the electrode plate insulating member that electrically insulates the electrode plate of the electrode assembly from the terminal.